Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has filed two amendments to include same-sex binationals in immigration reform legislation.

The
first amendment is the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which has
thus far proven controversial because of its language that technically
creates a new category for immigration officials to consider: "permanent
partner".

The second amendment filed by Leahy is one that calls for immigration reform to include married
same-sex couples. That's right - if you have entered into a marriage in
a state, country or jurisdiction (i.e., Washington D.C.) where it is
legally recognized, then this amendment says you should have the right
to equal treatment under immigration law to have that marriage
recognized.

To
paraphrase some leading advocates, Lavi Soloway of the DOMA Project calls Leahy's strategy with the second
amendment "a strategic master stroke". The vice president of the Human Rights Campaign, Fred Sainz, calls
it "brilliant."

With more than 50 Senators from both parties
supporting marriage equality, asking that our marriages be recognized
for immigration purposes makes sense. And, hopefully it will help more
of them, like Sen. Dianne Feinstein who sits on the judiciary committee
and will vote on this amendment, understand why we also need UAFA
language. Because we still only have marriage equality in a handful of
states. Because we still do not know which way DOMA and the Prop. 8
cases will be ruled on by the Supreme Court. Because same-sex
binationals, already suffering extreme financial hardship after years of
trying to keep our families together with no legal safety net
whatsoever, should not be forced to make an expensive trip to a state or
country that will marry us because of continued discrimination in a
home state.

Here's our action, please make two calls:
1) Sen. Leahy, at 202-224-4242, and thank him for recognizing and including same-sex binational families in immigration reform.
2) Sen. Feinstein, at
415-393-0707 and ask her to please vote "Yes" on both of Sen. Leahy's
amendments to include same-sex binational families in immigration
reform. (You do not have to live in California to make this call).

We
need to keep our stories front and center in the coming weeks to make
sure that we are included in immigration reform. Because we cannot
predict how the Supreme Court will rule. Anything less than total
removal of DOMA and marriage equality in all 50 states means we still
need the amendments filed by Sen. Leahy included in the immigration
bill.

And, quite frankly, we will all still need this broken
system to be overhauled and fixed. Because even in the best case
scenario, the death of DOMA, all of us same-sex binationals will have
just been let into the very system we have fought so hard to be a part
of. We'll be wanting it to work properly so that our green cards are
processed without delay.

The Out4Immigration Blog

We are a volunteer grassroots organization that addresses the widespread discriminatory impact of U.S. immigration laws on the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV+ people and their families through education, outreach, advocacy and the maintenance of a resource and support network.

NO U.S. citizen should be forced to choosebetween country and partner!